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Violinist solos at NRO concert

KIMBERLY NICOLETTIsummit daily news

Musician name: Noah Luft-WeissbergInstrument: ViolinConcert date: WednesdayWhy do you want to be a part of the NRO, and what do you hope to get out of this experience? I love playing with a top-quality orchestra, stretching myself to be better and better. Being part of a summer festival is always fun, as there are many opportunities to put on a really good show – the Breckenridge audience is a wonderful crowd to entertain.What keeps you disciplined and motivated to practice? Being inspired by great performances is my fuel – all it takes is a few really great moments in a concert, and my mind races – “wow, that was awesome, I bet I can achieve that effect and more in my next show.” The fear of failure is also a drive, but I try to keep my chops up so as to not even get into that trap of mind.Outside of music, what are some of your other interests or pursuits? Reiki energy healing, Judaism, hiking, cooking, playing tennis.Why is orchestral music important to you, and why do you want to share it with your community? For me, orchestral music can be the most meaningful of the performing arts – chamber music is a close second. When an orchestra is hot, there is a huge range of creative elements that can be expressed, new sounds, sound images – an orchestra can portray something immense, or very tiny in the same measure.What are your goals both musically and otherwise? Since I was little, I have wanted to play the best I could, with the best musicians I could, making the best music we could. This is not a competitive edge at all for me; it’s a dream of partnership. At the height of my own skill level, I can only accomplish a fraction of the meaning that is possible as two people at their heights individually and height collectively.What are some of your musical influences: I love the old boys – Jascha Heifetz, Janos Starker, David Oistrakh, Henryk Szeryng, Leonid Kogan, Mstislav Rostropovich, Paul Tortelier. There is something about the way they played that is fantastic. I think it is bravery in performance, as well as musical genius and skill of course. I’m a big Zuckerman fan too, and nowadays, Gil Shaham is a real joy to listen to and watch.Describe one of your most rewarding musical experiences: One of the most recent – I was playing in a quartet on a cruise ship, and we really hated it. It was our last day, last set, last song, and we decided to play this arrangement of the second movement of Dvorak’s New World Symphony, which was made into/based off the hymn, “Going Home.” It was the best we ever played it, the audience really got it, and it was our little farewell to each other as well. I’ll always remember that.What are some of the challenges and rewards that you foresee as you continue your musical career? The field is fierce – I’m finding that out now. There’s only so much you can do by yourself, and then the rest has to work out. Because I really love what I do, most of my experiences are positive. I like making people feel good, as I know good music does. It can be very easy to fall into the traps of society, and say “I should have done this, or chosen this instead,” but that is only a comparison to the rest of the world and what do they know?! Maybe this is just me being young and idealistic, but if what you do can make another human being feel good, heal a little, then everything else has been worth that one moment, if it leads you to do it.


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